" A lady makes a man a gentleman, and a gentleman makes a woman a lady" Sister Mary Eileen
Today, via the wonders of social networking I was introduced to two outstanding ladies. They are Madeleile McAulay, and Lolo Jones. You can read more about them Here http://faithhopeandpolitics.com/ and Here http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/track-star-lolo-jones-keeping-virginity-harder-training-olympics-article-1.1082882
I was impressed by both of these young women for their choices to publicly take a stand for something they believe in and for their willingness in doing so to suffer the wrath of those who would, rather than engaging in civil debate, subject them to mocking,vulgarity, and abuse for their stands. Well for my part I want to give them honor for their stand.That is a very different thing than what the code refers to as discussing "the merits" of a lady . Discussing the merits (or demerits) can be anything from locker room talk to any dishonoring speech that attacks her as a person.
In our modern age women are in the public and are engaged in the world of public opinion and politics. As such they place themselves in a position, rightly so, I believe, of being heard as well as seen. Gentlemen, and other ladies too, ought to engage them in civil and respectful debate that is honoring to their basic humanity and even more so their distinct worthiness as a lady. Their ideas may be critiqued and corrected, debated and countered but their bodies, faces, or individual dignity are off limits if we are to be truly gentlemen (or ladies) as we engage them. In other words If I can critique my fellow conservatives by way of example: Nancy Pelosci's politics are fair game. Her clothing, or appearance is out of bounds.
While a lady may not act like one it is never our business to treat her as anything else. And likewise it is appropriate to give honor where it is due. As my Middle School Principal, sister Mary Eileen taught us, Ladies can inspire us to be better Gentlemen. Like Jack Nicholson's character in As Good as it Gets, "You make me want to be a better man." may be one of the highest compliments we can give a lady. So as I am sure there are other ladies out there who may inspire us more than Miss McAulay, or Miss Jones, nevertheless I want to give them the honor that they are due. Thank you ladies, for upholding virtue in the face of an unvirtuous world. You have this aspiring gentleman's respect.
In our modern age women are in the public and are engaged in the world of public opinion and politics. As such they place themselves in a position, rightly so, I believe, of being heard as well as seen. Gentlemen, and other ladies too, ought to engage them in civil and respectful debate that is honoring to their basic humanity and even more so their distinct worthiness as a lady. Their ideas may be critiqued and corrected, debated and countered but their bodies, faces, or individual dignity are off limits if we are to be truly gentlemen (or ladies) as we engage them. In other words If I can critique my fellow conservatives by way of example: Nancy Pelosci's politics are fair game. Her clothing, or appearance is out of bounds.
While a lady may not act like one it is never our business to treat her as anything else. And likewise it is appropriate to give honor where it is due. As my Middle School Principal, sister Mary Eileen taught us, Ladies can inspire us to be better Gentlemen. Like Jack Nicholson's character in As Good as it Gets, "You make me want to be a better man." may be one of the highest compliments we can give a lady. So as I am sure there are other ladies out there who may inspire us more than Miss McAulay, or Miss Jones, nevertheless I want to give them the honor that they are due. Thank you ladies, for upholding virtue in the face of an unvirtuous world. You have this aspiring gentleman's respect.
Be all you resolve to be.
Mark
Awesome Mark. These words uttered from my father. "Treat all girls like ladies."
ReplyDeleteI hope to show my daughters a good example.